Tentative deal reached in Metro Vancouver grain strike: federal minister

Canada’s labour minister says striking grain terminal workers in Metro Vancouver and their employers have reached a tentative labour deal.

Steven MacKinnon announced the agreement between Grain Workers Union Local 333 and the Vancouver Terminal Elevators’ Association in a post on social media platform X, but provided no other details.

Grain Workers Union Local 333 and the Vancouver Terminal Elevators’ Association have reached a tentative agreement to get Canada’s harvest to market.

Thanks to the parties for putting in the work necessary to get a deal done, and to federal mediators for their support.

— Steven MacKinnon (@stevenmackinnon) <a href=«https://twitter.com/stevenmackinnon/status/1839845280050504173?ref_src=» https:>September 28, 2024

The union confirmed the tentative deal in a statement on Facebook, saying its members will conduct the ratification vote by Oct. 4.

The notification from the union also says picket lines were to be removed Saturday and members will return to work pending ratification, ending the strike that had paralyzed grain shipments from Metro Vancouver’s port.

The dispute had previously led to picket lines going up at six Metro Vancouver grain terminals on Tuesday as about 600 workers went on strike.

Canadian grain producers had urged a resolution in the dispute, noting about 52 per cent of the country’s grains moved through Metro Vancouver terminals last year en route to being exported.

Farmers say the strike, happening during crop harvesting, would result in as much as $35 million per day in lost exports.

The Western Grain Elevator Association said on Friday that talks had stalled after two days of negotiations this week, with the employer saying it had increased its offers to settle “outstanding